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' (No Model.) I 3 SheetsSheet 1.

E. 0. GIPE.

PACKAGE CARRIER.

No. 528,203, Patented O t. 30, 1894.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. O. GIPE, PACKAGE CARRIER.

No. 528,203. Patented Oct. 30, 1894.

m5 NaRms mugs 00.. monnrrno wuumnton o c (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. O. GIPE. PACKAGE CARRIER.

No. 523,203. Patented Oct. 30, 1894.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMANUEL O. GIPE, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD STORESERVICE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PACKAGE-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersIlatent No. 528,203, dated October30,1894. Application filed May 13, 1893. Serial No. 474,100- on model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMANUEL O. GIPE, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State ofIllinoisyhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Carriers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in package carriers adapted for usein stores, the nature and objects of the invention being fully describedand explained in this specification and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- I 5 Figure l, is a side elevation of a packagecarrier embodying my improvements, the carriage proper being supportedby the usual trackwire, and the basket being shown sup-. portedimmediately below the carriage from which it has just been released.Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the carrier, the view being in thedirection indicated by the arrow, 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan ofthe carrier in one operative position upon the track wire.

Fig. 4 is a similar View showing the carrier in another operativeposition. Fig. 5 is a view partly in side elevation and partlyinvertical section illustrating the construction of the carrier. Fig. 6is a side elevation showing 0 the mechanism for raising and lowering thebasket, the parts of the mechanism being in the normal position, whichthey assume when not supporting the basket. Fig. 7 is a view partly inelevation and partly in vertical sec- 3 5 tion, showing certain parts ofthe mechanism for raising and lowering the basket.

In the views, A is a vertical standard fastened at its upper end to aceiling or other support and provided with braces, b, holding 0 itrigidly in place.

Near the lower end of the standard a tubu' lar casting, B, is rigidlyfastened upon it an (1 supports a horizontal arm, B, provided at itsfree end with downwardly extending fingers,

5 B on which are mounted pulleys, P, P, whose use is hereinafter setforth.

On the lower end of the standard, A, is rigidly fastened a casting madeup of two forwardly extending arms, 0, C, Fig. 3, and two rearwardlyextending arms, 0, O, the arms of each pairbeing separated by aconsiderable space. An approximately horizontal track-wire," W, passesthrough the lower end of the standard, A, and is fastened to a drum, 0,pivoted on a transverse pin, 0, the pin being journaled in the arms, 0',O, and the toned to the front face of the casting and to this plate ispivoted a forwardly extending stop, S, hung upon the wire and made up oftwo members pressed apart by a suitable spring in the manner shown anddescribed in 710 my former application, Serial No. 449,620.

On the track-wire, W, rests and moves a carriage having a body, E, andprovided with rollers, R, R, adapted to rest upon the trackwire androllers, R, R, lying below the trackwire. The relation of these rollersis such that as the carrier in its motion toward the standard, A,reaches the stop, S, the upper and lower rollers embrace the stop andpress its parts together, so that they otter a frictional 8o resistanceto its progress.

To the arm, B, near its junction with the casting, B, is pivoted avertically oscillating lever, L, having at its free front end an arch,Z, over which is loopeda cord, K, which passes 8 about the pulleys,'P,P, already mentioned, the central portion of the cord being adapted tolie across and above the track-wire and to be caught by the end of thecarriage, E, and

drawn to the position shown in Fig. l, as the carriage approaches thestandard.

A lever, L, is pivoted to the lever, L, at a point near its free end,the free ends ofthe lever, L, being in engagement with the cord,

K, and this lever being adapted to take up 5 a the slack in the'cordi nthe manner fully explained in my said application, Serial No. 449,620.

On the standard, A, at a point considerably above the casting, B, is acasting, D, extend- 10o ing backward from the standard and. in thiscasting are mounted two pulleys, P, P ,'the

pulley, P, being near the standard and the pulley, P near the rear endof the casting, and both the pulleys being in ,the same vertical plane.A cord, K, fastened at one end to the lever, L, passes over the pulleys,P, P and is provided at its opposite end with a handle, by means ofwhich the cord may be operated, and the lever, L, lifted for the purposeof propel ling the carriage, E, away from the standard.

On the rear end of the casting, D, are mounted two horizontal pulleys, PP Figs. 1 and 2, in the front ends of the arms, 0, C, are mounted twoother pulleys, P P, Figs. 1 and 3, and these pulleys support cords, K Keach provided at one end with a ball, is, hanging just below thecorresponding pulley, P, the opposite ends of the two cords beingconnected by a yoke, is.

On the rear end of the standard, D, is formed a tube, (1, in which issecured the upper end of a vertical rod, A, extending downward betweenthe cords, K K to a point a short distance above the yoke,

On the lower end of the rod, A, is rigidly fastened a block, a, havingin its lower face a notch, N, lying above and in the same plane with theyoke, k. Above the block, a, is a rubber cushion, a, encircling the rod,A, and on this cushion rests normally a weight, w, encircling andsliding upon the rod, A. In the weight w, are seated two tubes,w, whichencircle and are rigidly fastened to the cords, K K The tubes, w, areprovided at their lower ends with heads, e0 which rest against thelowerface of the weight, 7.0, when all the parts are in the positionillustrated in Fig. 6, the weight, 10, being supported by the cushion,a, which forms a stop limiting its downward movement and the balls,10,10, being at a distance below the pulleys, P determined by the lengthof the cords, K K A spring, 3, encircles the rod, A, immediately belowthe tube, d, in which the upper end of the rod is set, this spring beingadapted to serve as a cushion for the weight, w, when it is drawn upwardin the manner and for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The frame, E, of the carriage resting upon the track-wire is formed withan integral downwardly extending triangular guide, E, and is providedwith a longitudinally sliding rod, E on which is mounted a downwardlyextending hook or catch, E the catch and rod being pressed in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, by means of aspring, e,encircling the rod and exerting its force against the catch. The guide,E, and catch, E serve as a means for detachably securing to the carriagea plate, F, which is connected by means of rods, g, g, with a basket, G,adapted to contain packages to be transported by the carrier. The plate,F, is formed with a longitudinal slot, F, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, this slotbeing adapted to embrace the upper end or base of the guide, E, and thecatch, E being adapted to engage the end wall of the slot, which is nearthe center of the plate.

When the plate is in engagement with the catch, E as shown in Fig. 5, itcan only be removed by pressing the rod, E and catch, E in a directionopposite to that indicated by the arrow in the figure, when the catchwill release the plate and allow it to be dropped downward; and when theplate is free from the carriage it can be again attached to it bypushing it upward in such a way that the slot in the plate may encirclethe guide, E, and the end wall of the slot may push the catch, E out ofits normal position and pass under its overhanging edge.

The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 5, a movement of thecarriage toward the standard pushes the rod, E and catch, E backward andreleases the plate, F. The plate, F, is further formed with two parallellongitudinal notches, F opening toward the standard, A, and so placed asto embrace the ends of the cords, K at points immediately above theballs, 70, 7t. The cords enter the notches in the plate and reach theposition indicated in-Fig. 4, at the instant when the rod, E has beenpressed backward by the plate, 0 on the casting, O, and this backwardmovement of the rod releases the plate, F, and basket, G, from thecarriage and brings their weight upon the balls, is, k. The weight ofthe basket is sufficient to draw the balls, k, 70, downward and draw theweight, w, upward, and the weight would move upward to the spring, 3, atthe upper end of the rod, A, if the yoke, 70, were not so placed as tostrike the notch, N, in the lower face of the block, a, and arrest theupward. movement of the weight, and the downward movement of the basket.When the downward movement of the basket is thus stopped it is in theposition shown in Fig. 1, which I call the half drop position.

When it is desired to lower the basket, so

.as to bring it within the reach of the operator, it is only necessaryto swing the yoke, It, in the direction indicated by the arrow thereonin Fig. 6, sufficiently to carry it from under the block, a. As soon asthis is done, the basket is free to descend, carrying the weight, w, andyoke, 70, upward, until the weight strikes the spring, 3, at the upperend of the rod, A, the spring being merely a cushion to prevent anyshock from the rapid ascent of the weight. The weight is controlled inits upward movement and may be drawn down when desired by means of acord, K fastened to the yoke and having a suitable handle at its lowerend. The tubes, w, which pass through the weight, w, and are fastened tothe cords, K slide freely up and down in the openings in the weight inwhich they are placed and prevent wear of the cords in the weight. Thesetubes are of such length and the balls, 70, is, are so placed on thecords, K that wuen the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7,the drawing downward of the yoke, k, brings the balls, is, against thelower faces of the arms,

the tubes, to, so that the tubes are always within the weight and guardthe cords. I prefer also to provide the cords, K K with similar tubes,to, Fig. 1, adapted to guard the cords against wear from the plate, F,as it comes into and out of engagement with the cords.

The plate, F, may be fastened to the rods,

g, g,in any suitable manner, but I prefer that illustrated in Figs. 1,3, and 4, in which the ends of each rod 9, are in thesame horizontal Sline and rest in a longitudinal groove in the upper face of the plateand near its side edge.

A small clamping plate, f, rests upon the plate, F, and covers the endsof the rod, this clamping plate being held in place by a screw passingthrough it and into the plate, F, and lying between the ends of the rodwhich are slightly separated for that purpose. This makes a very strong,light and simple fastening, easily put together and not liable toderangement or disconnection. t

When it is desired to again connect the basket and its plate, F, withthe carriage, E, the cords, K K and weight, w, are drawn down, until theslot, F, of the plate embraces the guide, E, and its end wall engagesthe catch, E Before this engagement takes place, the Weight to, strikesthe cushion, a, and is held thereby, while the yoke, still movesdownward a short distance sufiicient to carry the balls, 70, from theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 1, to that shown in dotted lines,the engagement of the plate and carriage being then accomplished. Theballs then drop back to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

It may sometimes happen that the balls, k, 70, will be drawn upward tothe lower faces of the ends of the arms, 0, O, and will remain in suchraised position, in which case the cords, K K would not be in positionto enter the notches, F in the plate, F. \Vhen.

this happens, it is important that as the carriage approaches thestandard it shall be arrested before the rod, E strikes the plate, 0 anddisconnects the basket from the carriage. For the purpose of so stoppingthe carriage, I have provided each of the arms, 0, with adownwardlyextending lug, 0 Fig. 1, so placed as to form a backing forthe corresponding ball, is, when raised to its highest limit ofmovement, and the balls then serve as stops against which the plate, F,strikes before the rod, E reaches the plate, 0 This arrangement preventsaccidental disconnection of the plate, F, from the carriage, when thecords, K K are not in place to receive it.

Having now described and explained my invention, What I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a package-carrying system, the coinbination with a suitablysupported standard,

F, whereby,

a track-wire fastened thereto, and a carriage moving thereon,of amovable catch mounted on the carriage, a plateadapted to engage saidcatch and a basket supported by the plate, suitably supported pulleys,cords passing over said pulleysand adapted to receive and engage saidplate when the carriage reaches a given position in its movement alongthe wire and means for detaching the plate from the carriage after suchengagementis completed, whereby the Weight-of the plate and basket maybe transferred from the carriage to the cords; substantially as shownand described.

2. The combination with the suitably supported track wire, W, thecarriage, E, moving thereon, and provided with a movable catch, theplate, F, adapted to engage said I catch and formed with the notches, FF of the cords, K K passing over suitably arranged pulleys and havingends provided with the balls, 70, k, and located in the line of movementof thenotches, F F and means substantially as shown and described foroperating the catch on the carriage and discon-Q meeting the platetherefrom when the notches in the plate have come into engagement withthe cords, whereby the weight of the plate may be transferred from thecarriage to the balls, is, It, and cords, K K

3. In a package-carrying system, the combination with a suitablysupported trackwire, and a carriage adapted to move thereon, of a platedetachably connected with the carriage and supporting a basket, cordspassing over suitable pulleys and having ends provided with balls andhanging in the path of motion of the plate and adapted to enter notchestherein, a weight attached to the ends of said cords opposite said ballsand counterbalancing the same, a stop limiting the downward movement ofthe weight and holding said balls normally in the plane below the levelof the plate, and means for disconnecting the plate from the carriageafter it comes into engagement with the ends of said cords, whereby,when the plate is disengaged. from the carriage, it may drop upon saidballs and bring its weight upon said cords.

4. The combination with the track-wire, W, and carriage, E, movingthereon, of the plate, F, detachably fastened to the lower face of thecarriage and supporting a suitable basket, the pulleys, P P, the cords,K K passing over said pulleys and provided at one end with the balls, k,k, and at the opposite end with the weight, w, adapted to overbalancethe weight of the balls, the suitably supported block, a, adapted tolimit the upward and downward movement of the weight and thereby tolimit the movement of the balls, 70, k,

and means for detaching the plate from the carriage, the ends of thecords, K K on which the balls are placed being in the path of movementof notches formed in the plate,

as the carriage moves along the 1 track, said notches may embrace saidcords,

' and the plate may rest upon said balls when detached from thecarriage.

5. The combination with the standard, A, and track-wire, W, of thecastings, G, D, fastened to the standard, the pulleys, P P supported bysaid castings, the cords, K K passing over said pulleys and provided atone end with balls, 70, k, and at the opposite end with the weight, w,and yoke, k, the vertical rod, A, and the block, a, attached to thelower end of said rod, and forming a stop to limit the downward movementof the weight, w, and the upward movement of the oke, k, the carriageadapted to move upon the track-wire and provided with a dependent catch,the plate, F, supporting a basket and adapted to engage the catch on thecarriage, and means substantially as shown and described for disengagingthe catch from the plate after the notches in the plate embrace thecords, K K the yoke, 7c, when lying beneath the block, a, being adaptedto hold the plate, F, ina position slightly below the bottom of thecarriage; substantiallyas shown and described.

6. The combination with the standard, A, and track-wire, W, of thecarriage moving on the wire, the rod, E mounted in the'carriage andsliding longitudinally therein, the dependent catch, E mounted rigidlyon the rod and moving therewith, a spring adapted to press the catch androd toward the standard and the detachable plate, F, adapted to engagethe catch and be supported by it in proximity to the carriage, themovement of the rod, E against the force of said spring being adapted torelease the plate, F, and disengage it wholly from the carriage;substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination with the carriage, E, having the dependent guide, E,of the movable dependent catch, E and the plate, F, formed with a slot,F, adapted to embrace the guide and catch and to be engaged and held inplace by the catch when in its normal position; substantially as shownand described.

8. The combination with the standard, A, track-wire, W, castings, O, D,and rod, A, of the pulleys, P P mounted in the castings, the cords, K Kpassing over said pulleys, the tubes, to, w, fastened on the cords andhaving heads, 10 ,10 at their lower ends, the weight, to, sliding on therod, A, and tubes, to, w, and the block, a, mounted on the rod, A, andlimiting the downward movement of the weight; substantially as shown anddescribed.

EMANUEL O. GIPE.

Witnesses:

C. F. HILDRETH, O. T. WEISHAR.

